Chai Line | August 2017 | Issue 1

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Chai Line The Newsletter for Chai Care, a program of the Jewish Community Foundation of Broward County

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AUGUST 2017 | VOL. 1, ISSUE 1

Proudly sponsored by

OF BROWARD COUNTY

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

SEPT

26 TUESDAY

OCT

10 TUESDAY

NOV

5

SUNDAY

NOV

Women’s Executive Circle

Sail Away Networking Event

6:00–9:00 p.m.

Tower Club, Ft. Lauderdale Women’s Philanthropy Division

Parkland/Coral Springs

Speaker Series 7:00–9:00 p.m.

Parkland

Major Gifts & Legacy Society An Evening to Remember 5:00–8:30 p.m.

9

Eastside

DEC

Super Sunday Phone-A-Thon

THURSDAY

3

SUNDAY

DEC

7

THURSDAY

Lunch & Learn 12:00–1:30 p.m.

Ft. Lauderdale

10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

David Posnack JCC Davie

Women’s Philanthropy Division

Women’s Day — The Event 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Because of You, Our Community Does Extraordinary Things.

Now Let Us Take Care of You.

Dates and times subject to change.

For more information visit www.jewishbroward.org or call 954-252-6900 H A

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Chai Care Director 954-252-6920 | abloom@jewishbroward.org www.jewishbroward.org/chaicare

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Amy Bloom, LCSW, CLCP, C-ASWCM

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Program of the Jewish Community Foundation of Broward County

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About Chai Care

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Chai Care is a concierge program delivering comprehensive advocacy for people confronted with the challenges of aging through professional care management. Those who make an irrevocable endowment of $100,000+ to one or more of our Jewish Foundation’s Vision Funds can access this program starting at the age of 65.

Since inception, just over three years ago, Chai Care has raised over $12 million for needy Jews in Broward County, Israel and around the world.

In the last three years Chai Care has touched the lives of 36 donors and their families, and currently there are 175 donors that are eligible to be part of the program.

Comprehensive Advocacy for Older Adults

Chai Care’s goal is to make our donors the most educated consumers that they can be in order to make difficult choices regarding their care.

Our professional care managers will actively work with, or on behalf

7

out of

10 adults

are expected to need assistance as they age

of a person to obtain services or resources that would not otherwise be provided, and to modify care or prevent changes in care that would negatively impact the member.

A professional care manager is a broker, mediator, educator, facilitator and mobilizer. When an individual’s health status changes, especially unexpectedly and for the worse, they become highly emotional. When emotions run high, people have a hard time hearing what others are saying.

They almost need someone to think for them, someone who knows what questions to ask, who is there for them, with no hidden agenda but to help them. They need someone who has experience and expertise in the health care field. They need Chai Care.

Chai Care is dedicated to meeting our donors’ needs through: • Identifying and articulating donor’s wishes, values and preferences • Openly communicating about complex issues • Empower donors and loved ones to make difficult decisions • Foster independence • Promote self-determination • Help our donors reach and maintain their maximum potential • Respect the dignity and privacy of our donors

2 | CHAI LINE

IMPACT STORY For a little over a year, we watched as our 94-year-old mother slowly deteriorated as Alzheimer’s disease continued to rob her of her mental abilities.

During those early stages, we began to communicate with Amy Bloom at Chai Care. She was extremely helpful as we sorted through the complex world of health care for the elderly, made even more complex as we are in Broward ­County and our mother lived in Miami-Dade County.

We began having part-time care for her in September 2015. As the dementia continued to progress, we began increasing her health care aide assistance until it became continuous in-home care. Once again, Amy was by our side throughout these difficult times. Amy’s help allowed us to properly select the agency and health care aides who could best serve our mother’s needs.

In late September 2016, her health deteriorated sharply. One day she became paranoid and delusional; it was time to take some drastic steps.

As we found ourselves in the very difficult position of having to commit our mother to the hospital, Amy was there to help us make the correct decisions.

G-d forbid anyone else should find themselves in a similar situation; we would not hesitate to recommend Chai Care for assistance.

Unfortunately, the need for such help is expanding as we all age. We hope that the Federation and the ­Foundation will continue to fund this program and plan to expand the service as demands increase.

Thank you, Federation. Thank you, Foundation. Thank you, Chai Care.

And, THANK YOU, AMY BLOOM. Don’t know what we would have done without you.

Letter from a grateful family of a Foundation Donor

MEET THE PROFESSIONALS DIRECTOR OF CHAI CARE

Amy Bloom, LCSW, CLCP, C-ASWCM Amy Bloom is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), a Certified Life Care Planner (CLCP), and a Certified Advanced Social Work Case Manager (C-ASWCM).

Amy was born and raised in New Jersey. She graduated from Simmons College in Boston with her BA in Sociology. She obtained her Master of Social Work from New York University, and a Certificate in Gerontology from Rutgers.

Amy has worked with aging, disabled, injured and mental health populations of all ages for 30 years. She owned, operated and then sold two professional care management companies in New Jersey.

Amy has been living in Florida for 14 years. During that time she remained working in the professional care management industry. She has been the Director of Chai Care since its inception in April 2014.

PROFESSIONAL CARE MANAGER, CHAI CARE

Phyllis Meyer, RN

Phyllis Meyer is a registered nurse (RN). Born and raised in New York, she has been a Florida resident for over 40 years. She attended Barry University where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

Phyllis has worked with the aging, disabled and mental health populations in a variety of settings, including home care, residential care, professional care management and hospice. Phyllis also has extensive experience in pain management, especially focusing on chronic pain issues.

Rose’s Corner

A Prayer & Wish for the New Year in Alphabetical Order A Am Isroel Chai!

B Blessings for peace C Closeness & caring for our families and people in need D Dreams for fulfillments E Exodus from exile F To be filled with happy events G Greatness and goodness to share H Hope, happiness and health to all I Israel we wish you peace J Justice to be practiced K Knowledge leads to success & kindness to respect L Love, live and let live M Mother earth, thank you for all you’re giving & feeding us N Never give up O Optimism helps to survive P Papa knows best, so listen to his advice Q Queen, every mother should be treated like a queen R Rachmones Oh Dear G-d have mercy to your chosen people S Sunshine is warm, but also can do harm T Time and talent should not be wasted U Useful, do good deeds V Vacation, use it for your body and mind W Wonderful, be optimistic you’ll feel great Y Yes, 5778 hope you’ll bring peace to our troubled world Z Zionism, you are my inspiration

By Rose Boyarsky

From the desk of

Keith Goldmann

Director of the Jewish Community Foundation kgoldmann@jewishbroward.org | 954.660.2085

I would like to first take this opportunity to say thank you to all those who have generously given gifts or made endowments to the Jewish Federation of Broward County. Because of you we can change the lives of people here in Broward County, in Israel and around the world. You are creating your Jewish legacy and promising impact for the future generations.

I am excited to welcome you to our first issue of Chai Line. This bi-monthly Chai Care newsletter is brought to you by the Jewish Federation of Broward County and is proudly sponsored by Alternative Home Health Care. Chai Line is our way to inform you of community happenings and provide you and your family with beneficial information.

In this issue you will learn about our Chai Care program and what it offers. For more information about Chai Care, please contact Amy Bloom, abloom@jewishbroward.org or 954-252-6920.

We hope you enjoy this issue and would be thrilled to hear what you would like to see in future newsletters.

Wishing you and your family a great rest of your summer.

AUGUST 2017 | 3

Ensure your philanthropic passion

by supporting our VISION FUNDS, which enable you to select areas of a particular interest to fund in perpetuity: • Klal Yisrael: Enrich Jewish life in Israel and around the world through the support of programs that transform lives in more than 75 countries.

• Shoah Fund: Provide support for programs that perpetuate the memory of the victims of the Holocaust (Shoah) and ensure that the survivors live their lives with dignity.

• Broward Hesed Fund: Sustain programs that assist and restore hope to families, children and the elderly who are in crisis or immediate financial need.

• The Jewish Living and Learning Fund: Inspire minds through programs that strengthen Jewish identity and education.

• Leadership and Community Involvement Fund: Build community through initiatives that seek to increase engagement in synagogues, agencies and our Federation.

• Special Needs Fund: Embrace individuals with special needs by ensuring they are connecting to our Jewish community and are able to reach their full potential.

For more information about Vision Funds and Chai Care eligibility, contact: Keith Goldmann, Director of the Jewish Community Foundation kgoldmann@jewishbroward.org | 954.660.2085

WE ONLY PROVIDE W-2 CAREGIVERS INSURED

BONDED

SUPERVISED

For worker’s compensation, unemployment and liability.

Allows for client’s personal property protection if needed.

All caregivers are overseen by, and report to a supervisor.

BROWARD

MIAMI DADE

954.622.0588 Lic. # HHA299991246

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PALM BEACH

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WWW.ALTERNATIVEHOMEHEALTH.COM | TOLL FREE: 855.622.0588 4 | CHAI LINE

AUGUST 2017